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This paper addresses the effects of the occurrence of BSE (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, also know as “mad-cow-disease”) on food safety policy in Germany, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom (UK), and on the institutional level of the European Union (EU). Previous research suggests that the occurrence of BSE was taken up as a policy issue in remarkably different ways across these countries â€" for instance, as a technical problem, or a problem calling for a fundamental reform of agriculture and food production. At the same time, the past decade witnessed the considerable evolution of a transnational policy approach on an EU level. These parallel developments form the central puzzle of this study. Drawing on a discourse-theoretical framework, this paper places meaning-making at the centre of the policymaking process. Based on a qualitative analysis of over 60 interviews and policy documents, the paper, first, recounts the different interpretations of the occurrence of BSE across these countries; second, it examines the development of “shared understandings” on the EU level in order to “unpack” the seemingly smooth process of transnational policymaking. Subsequently the paper inductively distills three related categories at the core of the EU food safety policy discourse: consumer protection, safety, and science. The analysis suggests that the generation of these supposedly universally valid categories were crucial in overcoming the differences across national contexts. Thereby the paper seeks to contribute to the study of International Relations, EU integration and more generally the field of interpretive policy analysis. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the extent to which different forms of parliamentary democracy may have different effects on crisis decision making. In general it is argued that the more power is concentrated into the hands of relative few decision makers, the more these will risk displaying symptoms of defective decision making. Variation in the degree of power concentration in parliamentary democracies may be related to constitutional arrangements (e.g. Presidential or parliamentary systems, the powers of the Prime Minister, electoral system), political structure (coalition cabinets one party government; minority versus majority cabinets) or political culture (informal norms and rules related to decision making). The paper will back these claims with case study material from foreign policy crises involving, amongst others, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, and the Netherlands. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Immigration policies serve a number of functions for states. Governments may use policies as instruments of foreign policy, economic growth, population growth, and/or national security. In this post-September 11, 2001 global environment, integration policies have become more assimilationist and immigration restrictions toward nationals from Muslim countries of origin have increased in the name of national security. While this trend is common among many Western states, Britain's immigration stance toward Muslim migrants remains unchanged. What explains the radical reforms in the Netherlands, Germany, and France while British immigration policy remained unchanged? This study examines change in immigration policies in Netherlands, Germany, France, and the absence of this change in the UK, towards migrants from predominantly Muslim countries of origin. Based on a comparative case study analysis using process tracing, findings indicate that Dutch immigration/integration policy choices influence government policy changes in other West European countries. Governments experiencing similar sociopolitical 'problems' and observe overlapping societal responses to them, optimize in creating policy alternatives by using short-cuts and adopting policies implemented in comparable states and situations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spotting emerging risks and making the appropriate decisions is one of the core tasks of governments. The early identification of upcoming issues reduces “surprise effects”, increases the room for maneuver, and improves the flexibility of governance. Whil ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper will focus on how five nations-Portugal, the Netherlands, Britain, the United States, and Japan-achieved trade dominance by devising technologies, social and financial institutions, and markets to enhance their access to raw materials.Through ecological and economic explanation of resource extraction and production, the author reveals globalization as the result of the progressive extension of systematically integrated material processes across cumulatively greater space. Drawing from extensive historical research into how economic and environmental dynamics interacted in the extraction of different materials in the Amazon, especially in the development of the iron mine of Carajas, the author also illustrates the profound connection between global dominance and control of natural resources. ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

I propose to analyze recent immigration legislation in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom in regards to the legislations? focus on attracting the ?best and the brightest? or the high-skilled to these countries? labor markets. I plan on answering three questions:1. Are immigration laws that focus on attracting the high-skilled simply the reverse side of restrictive immigration practices that severely narrow the rights of asylum-seekers, refugees, and illegal immigrants? In other words, has a new ?first world? (high-skilled from developed world), ?second world? (high-skilled from less developed world), and ?third world? (everyone else) been created with selective migration practices?2. Does competition for the highly-skilled immigrants among EU member states (specifically Germany, France, the Netherlands, and the United Kingdom) create divisions which negatively affect the single market? In other words, does this competition make a charade out of the idea of a European single market and effect the future integration of the European Union?3. What is the probability of these selective migration policies being effective? (A short comparison with similar policies applied for longer periods of time in Australia and Canada may be helpful in this section). Can these European states effectively control who gains residency and entry into their country? What does this bifurcation (restrictive for low-skilled, open for high-skilled) of migration mean for the future integration of Europe? ..PAT.-Unpublished Manuscript [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]